Gwynedd

Gwynedd's population grew in the decade to 2011. At the same time there were changes in knowledge of the Welsh language, family life and marriage.

The population passed 120,000

In the decade leading up to the most recent census, the population of Gwynedd increased by 4.3%, from just under 117,000 to 122,000.

The addition of about 5,000 people means this area's population increased at a slower rate than the total population of Wales (up 5.5% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Gwynedd was home to, on average, 0.34 people per football pitch-sized piece of land. This made it Wales' third-least densely-populated district.

Population density was similar to the average across Wales

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across Wales, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older Gwynedd

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of Gwynedd increased by two years, from 40 to 42 years.

This remote area had a higher average age than Lancaster, a statistically similar local authority area (40 years of age) and remained slightly older than the average local authority area across Wales (41 years of age).

The rise in age was because of an increase of just over 3,200 people between the ages of 60 and 69 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by just over 2,000.

About 13% of people in Gwynedd are aged between 60 and 69 years

Percentage of usual residents in Wales, Conwy and Gwynedd by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

Fall in proportion of Welsh speakers

The proportion of Welsh speakers in Gwynedd fell from 69% to 65% in the 10 years leading up to Census 2011.

This was the third-largest decline in the proportion of Welsh speakers of any local authority area in the country. Of the few areas where knowledge of the Welsh language increased, Monmouthshire saw the largest change (from 9.0% to 9.9%).

There are 495 fewer people living in Gwynedd who spoke Welsh compared with 2001, while the number of people who did not spoke Welsh increased by 5,484.

In nearby Conwy, 27% of people over the age of three could speak some Welsh, down from 29% at the 2001 census. Across Wales, the proportion fell from 21% to 19%.

The proportion of people who could speak Welsh was higher than across Wales

Percentage of people aged three and over that said they could speak Welsh across local authority areas in Wales and the average across Wales, March 2011

More homes without children

Gwynedd saw Wales' largest rise in the proportion of households without children.

During this period, Gwynedd overtook Denbighshire and Powys to become the Wales local authority area with the third-highest percentage of households without children.

In 2011, just under 7 in 10 (66%) households in Gwynedd had no children, compared with 62% in 2001. The percentage with at least one child decreased from 28% to 25%.

Isle of Anglesey saw the next largest rise (from 61% to 64%).

The proportion of households without children was higher than across Wales

Percentage of households without children across local authority areas in Wales and the average across Wales, March 2011

More students

Gwynedd saw Wales' second-largest rise in the proportion of students.

During this period, Gwynedd overtook to become the Wales local authority area with the fourth-highest percentage of students.

In 2011, just over 1 in 25 (4.2%) people aged 16 to 74 in Gwynedd said they were in education, compared with 2.5% in 2001. The percentage that were employed increased from 42% to 45%.

The largest increase occurred in Ceredigion (from 3.9% to 6.2%).

The percentage of students in Gwynedd increased by 1.8 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 in Gwynedd, Conwy and Wales that said they were in education, March 2001 and March 2011

Disability in Gwynedd

The percentage of Gwynedd residents whose day-to-day activities are limited a lot by a long-term health problem or disability increased from 3.8% to 4.3% in the decade to 2011.

The proportion who reported being limited a little in their day-to-day activities remained close to 5.8%, while the percentage of Gwynedd residents whose day-to-day activities are not limited by a long-term health problem or disability decreased from 90% to 90%.

The proportion of people who are considerably limited by a long-term health problem or disability fell at the third fastest rate of all local authority districts across Wales. As a result, this area had the country's second lowest proportion of people who are considerably limited by a long-term health problem or disability and the lowest proportion of homeowners.

The proportion of people who are limited a lot by a long-term health problem or disability was lower than across Wales

Percentage of usual residents that reported being considerably limited in their day-to-day activities across local authority areas in Wales and the average across Wales, March 2011

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